In bilayered restorations a core structure made of metal or ceramics is covered with a veneer ceramic. Clinical experience has shown that it is difficult to achieve the desired bond strength between the two layers, therefore, complications such as chipping or fracture of the thin and fragile ceramic layer is a common complication. These complications are tried to be avoided by introduciong one-piece, i.e. monolithic restorations. Monolithic ceramic restorations are made of only one type of material. Their main advantage is compactness, and thus high resistance to bite forces. The most commonly used types of ceramic materials for monolithic restorations are lithium disilicate and zircononium-oxide. Lithium-disilicate has great optical properties which can mimic natural tooth colour and translucency, and therefore it is primarily indicated in the esthetic zone. Zirconium-oxide has outstanding mechanical properties, such as hardness, flexure strenght and fracture restistance, but inferior optical properties in comparison to lithium-disilicate, and therefore it is mainly used in the posterior area. However, nowadays zirconium-oxide ceramics with a higher translucency level have been introduced, which opens new possibilities for their use. Further development of ceramic materials is expected to further broaden the indications for monolithic ceramic restorations.